The House of Justice feels that the believers should not become preoccupied with fruitless speculations about the timing and form of the calamities which are occurring during this period of history. These calamities have the dual purpose of chastening humanity for its failure to recognise the Manifestation for this day and of cleansing the hearts of men through suffering and thus preparing them to accept the claims of Bahá’u’lláh.
Shoghi Effendi pointed out the direct connection between the suffering in the world and the lamentable spiritual condition of mankind at the present time, in the following passage from a letter written on his behalf:
There is nothing in the teachings to tell us exactly how much longer the present turbulent state of the world is going to endure; but we do know that humanity must suffer until it becomes spiritually awakened, and that the Most Great Peace will come, as promised by Bahá’u’lláh. (From a letter dated 26 February 1946, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 14 July 1988 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; compilation: ‘Potential Calamities and Ensuring Sustainability of Communities’, prepared by the Baha’i World Center)
